Vehicle Description
Car enthusiasts are an interesting lot. Not only do most of us
possess the desire to preserve and create, we're also quite picky.
Contrary to popular belief, those traits aren't simply a means to
relive the glory days of our youth. Rather, in most cases, they're
the well-plotted means to recreate the idealized version of that
world. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident that with 'Libby', this
beloved '36 Ford. The car's builder grew up watching fast,
1930s-era Fords flash across his TV screen, and, even though he
earned his hot rodding chops on muscle cars and Corvettes, the
thought of a keen '30s Ford never left his psyche. So, after years
of funding his car addiction with a successful career as an oral
surgeon, he decided to build the quintessential street rod. No,
this wasn't about simply preserving memories, it was about a
detail-oriented dream to create a timeless steel roadster. And, as
you can see from our latest offering, dreams often come true!
BUILD THE CAR YOU WANT, NOT THE CAR YOU CAN HAVE
When this Ford's builder set out to create his ultimate hot rod, he
didn't want a fiberglass car; and he certainly didn't want a
Phaeton or Convertible. So, he searched for almost two years before
locating a rust-free member of the 3,862 1936 Roadsters Ford
produced - then traveled all the way to Canada to pick it up.
The first order of business with any hot rod is power, and few
engines make power like the mighty Hemi! Enamored with the legend
of the early elephant motor, this Roadster's builder decided to
make it the powertrain of choice for his idealized cruiser. That's
when the pros at Lititz, Pennsylvania's Black Mountain Hemi tagged
in. Tg 670cfm Holley Street Avenger carburetor. That carb, strung
between polished fuel lines and a quality Lokar linkage, dumps wind
and liquid in to a polished Hot Heads intake. At the back of that
intake, a Vertex electronic distributor sequences spark through
pliable Taylor Spiro Pro plug wires. Under those wires, custom
Tri-Y headers make quick work of spent gases. In front of those
pipes, polished pulleys spin a polished water pump beside modern
power steering and a polished generator that's actually an
alternator. In front of those ancillaries, a big radiator feeds
polished water tubes under an orange-tinged billet cap. And items
like a polished oil filler, polished valve covers, polished
dipsticks and custom hood supports reinforce the build's clean and
concise aesthetics.
INTENSE OPERATION
Picking an ideal engine is easy. Making that engine work? Well,
that posed a whole new challenge. One that would see the Ford
undergo serious surgery and major modification. After being shipped
to Xtreme Restoration in Slatersville, Rhode Island, the car's
factory frame was boxed, smoothed and carefully modified to
accommodate the Hemi. Naturally, the floor was cut and carefully
refashioned around a proven Chrysler A727 TorqueFlite that spins a
polished driveshaft. That tube twists a proven Currie 9-inch that's
finished with a posi-traction differential and 31-spline axles. At
the front of the car, factory bones were swapped for a full Kugel
Komponents Phase II independent suspension, which features billet
QA-1 coil-over-shocks. At the back of the car, a custom 4-link
set-up hangs a second set of billet QA-1s under a '70 Ford Torino
sway bar. Turns come courtesy of power rack-and-pinion steering.
The Hemi's power is kept in check by 10-inch Wilwood discs and
power-assisted SSBC calipers. Exhaust exits through custom,
powder-coated pipes, which, balanced on custom connecting rod
hangers, center polished, glasspack-style mufflers in front of
polished stainless tips. And everything rolls on metallic Artillery
Wheels, which spin wide Toyo whitewalls around stainless trim rings
and custom center caps. All that first class hardware is framed in
solid, Gloss Black floors. And choice finishing components include:
stainless fluid lines, a polished starter, a polished brake
booster, a 20-gallon Rock Valley fuel tank and quality Wilwood
brake proportioning.
ONCE, TWICE, THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM
Now, in case you didn't know, oral surgeons, and surgeons in
general, tend to be very meticulous people. And since this
particular surgeon had already participated in the Detroit Autorama
in years past, a lack of inspiration was not an issue. He had a
vision, and he made sure to see that vision through even if it
meant doing things more than once. For starters, the car's
professionally finessed body is coated in custom PPG Orange
Metallic 2-stage that was mixed and sprayed twice. At the front of
that pigment, a polished bullnose, which took three different
mock-ups, shades a dressed grille that's framed by pinstriped
headlights and a polished bumper. Behind that grille, a custom
clamshell hood aligns vented side panels that have been discretely
tailored to the big Hemi engine. Below those panels, polished horn
grilles lead bold fenders that are fashioned around smoothed
running boards. At the back of those boards, a second polished
bumper frames a polished fuel filler and Blue Dot Taillights. And
the top of the car, well, that's where the bulk of the modification
happened. See, the builder wanted to lower the center bow of the
roof by roughly three inches, and it took several iterations of the
custom cloth top to accomplish that. In front of that top, a tinted
windshield sprouts custom mirrors from a polished frame. And,
speaking of glass, custom side glass, originally sourced from a VW
bus, employs custom door internals in the name of weight.
A COCKPIT THAT'S AS NICE AS THE OFFICE
Custom leather side panels flow to a custom leather convertible
cowl. Behind the scenes, modern wiring complements quality Dynamat
insulation. And the driver commands a custom Banjo Steering Wheel,
which spins a Bird's Eye Maple rim between an orange-tinged, "V8"
branded hub and an old school Knee Knocker Tach.
AWARDS & FEATURES
As you might expect, this never-sold street rod gets plenty of
positive attention. Here's a short list of the car's major
accolades.
Featured in Cruisin' Style Magazine
- 2017
Builder's Choice Award
- Goodguys North Carolina Nationals
- 2017
Staff Pick Award
- Goodguys North Carolina Nationals
- 2017
Featured in Street Rodder Magazine
- 2008
Best in Class Award
- Boston World of Wheels
- 2008
VEHICLE SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
Photos taken before the car's restoration
Multiple albums of build photos
Multiple binders of build receipts
Like our best memories, art is both ubiquitous and immortal. This
incredible '36 Ford is a timeless yet effortlessly classic hot rod
that represents passion, quality and creativity at its very best.
Call your friends at RK Motors Charlotte and grab the wheel of an
impressive drop-top that'll inspire joy for years to come!
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a professional, ground-up restoration
Winner of multiple national awards / Featured in multiple
publications
354 cubic inch Hemi V8 / .030 overbore
A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission
Custom leather interior / Modern audio
Heavily upgraded frame / Custom suspension
Currie 9-inch rear axle / Posi-traction differential
All-steel body / Custom PPG Orange Metallic paint
Power rack-and-pinion steering / 4-wheel power disc brakes
Sale includes build photos and build receipts
